Spring is the perfect time to toss out anything that’s been preventing you from reaching your fitness goals.

Remember, fitness targets should always be just beyond your current reach and your overall program should never become rote or stale. If you’ve been completing the same routines since New Year’s, it’s definitely time to start from scratch.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Get Outside: Once it begins warming up, you’ll naturally long to spend time in the great outdoors. Don’t fight it! Especially in B.C.’s beautiful lower mainland, with its near-endless range of hikes and nature trails, there’s simply no reason you can’t get in fantastic regular workouts outside. Just be sure to include a few resistance exercises and to lift significant weight at least once per week to avoid losing your whole winter’s worth of gym-based muscle gain.

2. Prepare for Showers: If you’re determined to exercise more outdoors, don’t let a little rain stand in your way. Buy proper wet-weather gear, including thin socks, compression pants and shirts, and, above all, nothing made of cotton or other absorbent natural fibers. Once you’re all set with a water resistant spring workout wardrobe, you’ll feel unstoppable! Not sure where to start? Try one of the eight Fitness Town locations in the lower mainland.

3. Overhaul Your Diet: After tossing out your winter workouts, consider also sprucing up your diet to include more fresh vegetables and clean proteins like tofu, chicken breast, egg white, and fish. And remember to chuck out or give away any leftover goodies that might tempt you unnecessarily. Instead, stock up on healthy snacks like whole almonds and dried fruit.  While you’re at it, consider booking a physical or a nutritionist’s session to determine what aspect of fitness you should be eating for, such as strength, endurance, heart health, weight loss, etc.

Rebuilding your fitness program each spring can make exercise fun again and drastically increase your commitment level. Above all, your motto for the season should be: “out with the old, in with the new!”

For more help refreshing your spring fitness routines, consider booking a session with a personal trainer today. To get you started, Karp Fitness is pleased to offer $100 off your first five-sessions in Vancouver and throughout B.C.’s lower mainland. 

Shaun Karp is a certified personal trainer.  For further information call his office at 604-420-7800 or visit their web site: www.karpfitness.com